Corey Feldman Claims ‘DWTS’ BTS Culture is ‘Toxic’ as He Takes New Jab at Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Corey Feldman has hit out at the ‘toxic’ culture on Dancing with the Stars, taking aim at former professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s public criticism of him just days before he is set to return.

via: Page Six

“There was a lot of stupidity in the mudslinging that went on behind the scenes,” Feldman, 54, told the Daily Mail on Saturday.

“Actually there, everything was great. But the behind-the-scenes drama and BS that people throw around that show, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s the worst, like, most toxic.”

The “Stand By Me” star went on to admit that he’s “not excited” to return to the show for the Season 34 finale due to the constant negativity among the stars.

“On the set everybody gets along,” he said. “Everybody’s great. Everybody’s happy. You’re working hard. You don’t even have time to look up. You’re just working.”

“But then it’s like you start reading these things in the paper, like, ‘this person’s mad at this person. These people aren’t talking to each other.’ Or ‘are people working hard enough?’ ‘Corey Feldman destroyed the show. He destroyed the whole show because he was such an egomaniac it’s so difficult to work with.'”

“And then you’re like, where is this coming from? And I asked [my pro dancing partner Jenna Johnson], I’m like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s just Max.’ She rolls her eyes. She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s just Max. Don’t pay attention to him. He just wants attention.’ I was like oh my God,” he told the outlet of the drama surrounding him.

Reps for Chmerkovskiy, Johnson and “Dancing With the Stars” didn’t immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.

In September, Chmerkovskiy, 45, told Daily Mail that Feldman was giving his sister-in-law, Johnson, a “difficult” time this season, hindering her chances to win.

“Obviously, Jenna has a bit of an uphill climb with Corey, which is easy for everybody to say from [outside], but I know that she’s having a much more difficult time with this entire thing and to the point that it is really difficult for her,” he told the Daily Mail at the time.

Chmerkovskiy speculated that Feldman’s dancing issues were likely due to his lack of dancing abilities and work ethic.

He noted the “Stand by Me” actor was struggling with choreography and that the entire experience was out of his comfort zone.

“Don’t forget this production is not just about you and your partner dancing, it’s about this massive behemoth of everything that’s happening — the amount of people that you have to deal with, the amount of interviews, and this is all between your rehearsal time and your therapy, and you are trying to lick your wounds and all that stuff,” he shared.

Feldman later admitted that Johnson, 31, “deserved better” from her partner after they were sent home during “One-Hit Wonders Night” in a double elimination alongside Baron Davis and Britt Stewart.

“I feel really terrible because she deserved better, personally speaking,” he said, adding, “Jenna’s amazing. I really enjoyed her.”

“She was the queen from last year, so she deserves to be the champ every year in my book ’cause she’s really great.”

Feldman addressed Chmerkovskiy’s comments about his work ethic via social media later that month by responding to a comment on Johnson’s Instagram.

“Im so sorry for any negativity the media is using to give the false narrative that our time together was anything less than enjoyable,” he wrote.

“And U know as well as i do that i was there 7 days a week for the past 3 weeks, doing everything in my power to give U my best, even if the judges couldnt see it,” he continued. “God Bless your family. Keep dancing the dream. ❤️🙌.”